RCGC Grand Prix Back For 2015

After a successful 2014 Grand Prix, the Runners’ Club of Greater Cincinnati will be doing a Grand Prix Series in 2015. The goal of the RCGC Grand Prix is to include and recognize many of the races that the club runs, supports, started or helped start. It includes several popular and unique races in Cincinnati that the club has supported over the years.
There will be a few changes to the Grand Prix in 2015. What will change is the number of races that will be scored as 9 races will be scored which includes at least one B Race and one C race plus 7 other races. Also, more awards will be given out.     Awards will be given to the top overall Male and Female, and Top Male and Female in the Following Age Groups -  Youngsters(29&Under), Submasters (30-39), Masters(40-49), GrandMasters(50-59) and Legends(60 & over).  Also for 2015 will be the 700 Club – Any member who scores over 700 points in the 2015 Grand Prix will receive a commemorative award.  
 All Club Members who meet the eligibility requirements will receive an award. The first race in the series will be the 35th Annual Valentine's Two Mile Labor of Love Run on Sunday February 8 at noon at Northern Kentucky University.  View the RCGC Grand Prix page for more details. About the RCGC Grand Prix.

Winter Wonderland Run Previews

The Winter Wonderland Run Previews are two free no frills off road 3 mile runs held at Lower Millcrest Park to help get you ready for the RCGC Winter Wonderland Run on March 1. They will be held on February 15 and February 22 at 1:00 PM. Awards to the top male and top female for each preview.
Course will be the same as the Winter Wonderland Run. Check out the club race calendar for information on both.

Winter Wonderland Run - Sunday March 1

Yes Virgina, there will be a Winter Wonderland Run in 2015 and it is going off road at Lower Millcrest Park in Norwood, OH. Lower Millcrest Park is located on Hopkins Avenue down the road from Xavier University. Registration opens at Noon and race is at 1:00 PM.  Preregistration is only $5.00 for RCGC members and $10.00 for the general public. Register online at www.runsignup.com. Race day registration will be $10.00 for Club members and $15.00 for general public. Awards will go to the top three overall male and female runners,  plus the top male and female in the following age groups:  18 & Under, 19-29, 30-39,40-49, 50-59, 60 & over. Food, drinks and maybe doorpizes will be provided to all participants after the race. For more information and to print a mail-in race entry form, please visit www.cincinnatirunning.com or email cincinnatirunning@gmail.com.
Race Details
DATE: Sunday, March 1, 2015 - Open to All.
TIME: 1:00 PM.
PLACE: Lower Millcrest Park, Norwood OH
PRE-REGISTRATION: ends Tuesday February 24, 2015.
COURSE: 3 Mile Run - Three laps around a one mile off road course in Lower Millcrest Park.
INFO: View the flier or online registration page for more information.

Early Registration Ends Today For 35th Annual Valentine Labor of Love

Early registration ends today Tuesday February 3 for the 35th Annual Valentine's Two Mile Labor of Love Run. The deadline for mail entries  was yesterday. Online Registration is available through 11:59 PM Tuesday February 3. Cost is $20- General Public and $15 - RCGC Members / 23 & Under.  Register now before the price goes up. Visit the club website for more information about the race.
Race Details

• DATE: Sunday, February 8, 2015 - Open to All.
  
• TIME: 12 Noon.
  
• PLACE: Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY.
  
• PRE-REGISTRATION: Early Registration ends Tuesday February 3 ,2015.
  
• PACKET PICK-UP: The Running Spot, Newport, Saturday, February 7, 2015 1 - 3 PM or at NKU day of race beginning at 10:30 AM. 
• DIRECTIONS:  From downtown Cincinnati, Take I-471. 471 ends at 27, go straight through light. Turn right at next light at the NKU sign. Take a right on University, then first left to Kenton. Park in the garage off Kenton. View Campus Map
  
• COURSE: 2 mile course beginning at Albright Health Center.
• INFORMATION: Join the Runners' Club of Greater Cincinnati this winter in one of the more fun and different races that you'll find in Cincinnati. Online Registration is available through Tuesday February 3.    Visit the club website for more information about the race. 
  Register online.

Free Tickets for Advance Screening of McFarland USA

The Runners' Club of Greater Cincinnati was given free tickets by The Owens Group to an advance screening of MCFARLAND USA. The screening will be held at the Kenwood Theater on Thursday 2/5/15 at 7:00 PM. We have 4 tickets left so if interested, send us an email with your address and we will get them out to you ASAP. Thank you.

SYNOPSIS: Based on the 1987 true story, "McFarland, USA" follows novice runners from McFarland, an economically challenged town in California's farm-rich Central Valley, as they give their all to build a cross-country team under the direction of Coach Jim White (Kevin Costner), a newcomer to their predominantly Latino high school. Coach White and the McFarland students have a lot to learn about each other but when White starts to realize the boys' exceptional running ability, things begin to change. Soon something beyond their physical gifts becomes apparent-the power of family relationships, their unwavering commitment to one another and their incredible work ethic. With grit and determination, the unlikely band of runners eventually overcomes the odds to forge not only a championship cross-country team but an enduring legacy as well. Along the way, Coach White realizes that his family finally found a place to call home and both he and his team achieve their own kind of American dream. View Trailer.

Volunteer Opportunities - February 2015

Here are some upcoming opportunities where you can help out the Runners' Club of Greater Cincinnati. If you can help out with any of these events, we would greatly appreciate it:

1. 35th Annual Valentine's Two Mile Labor of Love Packet Pickup  - The Valentine Race needs 5 volunteers to help with packet pickup at Bob Ronckers' Running Spot in Newport KY on Saturday February 7 from 1-3 PM. If you you can help, let us know at cincinnatirunning@gmail.com
2. 35th Annual Valentine's Two Mile Labor of Love  - The Valentine Race needs 5-10 volunteers to help with timing, and oversee things on Sunday February 8. It would take 2-3 hours of your time. The jobs are easy and you will get the commemorative 35th Labor of Love Run Shirt for your efforts. Volunteering is one of the easiest ways to get to know other club members. Let us know whether you can help by emailing us at cincinnatirunning@gmail.com. 
3. Ongoing Openings - Currently we have few openings for keeping the club running on an ongoing basis:  Social Chair,  Program Chair, and Newsletter Editor. Most positions take 2-3 hours a month of your time. If you can or would like to fulfill one of these positions, please send an email to cincinnatirunning@gmail.com or attend the next board meeting on February 18.

Couples Registration For 2015 Labor of Love Run

With about one week to go until the 2015 Labor of Love Run, let's talk about Couples Registration. One of the interesting things about the Labor of Love is the Couple category .  There are the straight forward categories like Married, Father-Daughter, Mother Son etc,  to the tethered like Ball & Chain(Male and Female run tied together with caution tape), Thelma & Louise(Two Females run tethered together with caution tape), and Felix & Oscar(Two Males run tethered together with caution tape), to the combined age categories where couples run in Divisions based on their Combined Age.   To register as a couple,  go to online registration, Click the Couples registration, fill out the various fields.  Couple Awards are scored based on the place of the male and place of the female. If a female was 10th among females and the male runner was 5th among males, their combined score would be 15 points.  Chance of winning an award right now in the Couples Categories is pretty good(only 20 teams currently registered and we try to go three deep in each couple category). Some people in 2014 had trouble registering online as a couple, so we created an online video to help you in 2015. Enjoy. If you still have trouble, you can always fill out an entry form and mail it in.  Hurry! Mail In Registration ends today.
Note: Couples Need To Sign Up Together
Sign up today.

Early Registration Ends Soon For 35th Annual Labor of Love Run

Early registration ends soon for the 35th Annual Valentine's Two Mile Labor of Love Run, one of Greater Cincinnati's more beloved races. The deadline for Mail entries is Monday February 2. Online Registration is available through Tuesday February 3. Cost is $20- General Public and $15 - RCGC Members / 23 & Under.  Register now before the price goes up. Visit the club website for more information about the race.
Race Details

• DATE: Sunday, February 8, 2015 - Open to All.
  
• TIME: 12 Noon.
  
• PLACE: Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY.
  
• PRE-REGISTRATION: Early Registration ends Tuesday February 3 ,2015.
  
• PACKET PICK-UP: The Running Spot, Newport, Saturday, February 7, 2015 1 - 3 PM or at NKU day of race beginning at 10:30 AM. 
• DIRECTIONS:  From downtown Cincinnati, Take I-471. 471 ends at 27, go straight through light. Turn right at next light at the NKU sign. Take a right on University, then first left to Kenton. Park in the garage off Kenton. View Campus Map
  
• COURSE: 2 mile course beginning at Albright Health Center.
• INFORMATION: Join the Runners' Club of Greater Cincinnati this winter in one of the more fun and different races that you'll find in Cincinnati. Online Registration is available through Tuesday February 3. Mail in entries need to be postmarked by February 2.   Visit the club website for more information about the race. 
  Register online.

February 2015 Races

Below is a list of upcoming races in February 2015. Check the club calendar for a few more races in February.
Sunday February 1 

• ORRRC 48th Annual Frostbite 5 Mile, 2:00 pm, Centerville High School, Centerville, OH, www.orrrc.org.

Saturday February 7 

• Topo Trail Running Series - Caesar Creek State Park, 10:00 am,Caesar Creek State Park, Waynesville OH, www.topoadventuresports.org. 

Sunday February 8 

• 35th Annual Valentine’s Labor of Love 2 Mile Run, noon, Regents Hall, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights KY, www.cincinnatirunning.com.

Saturday February 14 

• Cupid's Undies Run, 2:00 pm, Arnie's on the Levee 120 E. 3rd St. Newport, KY 41071, www.cupidsundierun.com. 

Sunday February 15 

• Fight for Air Climb, 7:00 am, Carew Tower, 5th and Vine Street, Cincinnati OH, www.fightforairclimb.com.

• Sweetheart Shuffle, noon, Atrium YMCA, 5750 Innovation Drive, Franklin, OH 45005, www.runwalkjog.com. 
• Winter Wonderland Run Preview,  3 Mile Run, 1:00 pm,  Lower Millcrest Park, Norwood OH, Race Information.

Saturday February 21

•  Frosty 14 Trail Run, 9:00 am, Caesar Creek State Park, Waynesville, OH, www.orrrc.org.
• Special Olympics Polar Climb 3K Walk/5K Run , 11:00 am, Versailles State Park - Versailles Lake Boat Ramp, Versailles, IN 47042, www.stuartroadracing.com.

Sunday February 22

• Winter Wonderland Run Preview 2,  3 Mile Run, 1:00 pm,  Lower Millcrest Park, Norwood OH, Race Information. 

Saturday February 28

• Quo Vadis 5K/10K Race , 9:00 am, Covington Latin School, Covington KY, http://www.sprunning.com.

Top Ten Reasons to Do The 35th Annual Valentine’s Labor of Love 2 Mile Run

Here are the top ten reasons to do the 35^th Annual Labor of Love Run at Northern Kentucky University. Early registration ends soon so SIGN UPTODAY:

1. What else are you going to do the weekend after the Super Bowl?
2.  The Noon Start lets you stay out late on Saturday and  race on Sunday.
3. The commemorative 35^th Annual Long Sleeve Race Shirt
4. With the long sleeve shirt, chip timing, great post race including sandwiches from Panera and the above average chance to get an award in the couple categories, you are almost running for free at $20.
5.  Anybody can do two miles whether that is running, walking, or crawling.
6.  It is Cincinnati's largest 2 mile race. 
7.  The scenic Run around the Northern Kentucky University Campus.
8.  Make history by being one of the first dynamic duos to sign up for the Felix and Oscar Division.
9. See if you can stand your significant other for two miles by being tethered together in the Ball and Chain Division.
10. It is one of Greater Cincinnati’s favorite and most beloved races.

Join the 2015 Runners' Club of Greater Cincinnati Heart Mini Team

The Runners' Club of Greater Cincinnati has a team participating at the 38th Annual Heart Mini-Marathon. For joining the team, you get access to the club's Heart Mini Suite where you can put your stuff and no need to share bathrooms with 15,000 participants. You can sign up to be part of the team at this year's (March 14th - March 15th) run/walk events by identifying yourself as part of Runners' Club of Greater Cincinnati while registering. You can also join from our team page.  If filling out a paper form indicate Runners' Club of Greater Cincinnati  as your team.  Cost of the HeartMini Marathon is $45 and $60 for the Heart Half Marathon through March 2.  The 15k and Half Marathon begin at 7:30 AM this year and the 5k begins at 10:30 AM.

Join the Runners' Club Team

Blind Date Registration For the 2015 Valentine's Labor of Love Run

With about one week to go until early registration closes for the 2015 Valentine's Labor of Love Run, we decided to create a few posts this week to help promote the race. One of the improvements that we made in 2015 was making it easier to register online for the Blind Date Category by giving it its own category. All you need to do is go to online registration, sign in, select Blind Date, fill out the various fields, confirm your payment and you are registered . Chance of winning an award right now in the Blind Date in 2015 is  75% or 0% if your partner decides not to show up. Currently 4 men have signed up but only 1 woman. Ladies, sign up online for the Valentine's Labor of Love Run in the Blind Date Category and get 20% off the preregistration price. Use Coupon Code 2015FemaleBlindDate at Checkout. Offer is good for the next few female runners.
Sign up today.

RCGC Board Meeting - January 22

The next RCGC Board Meeting will be held on Thursday  January 22 at The Foot Doctor at 5521 Montgomery Road at 7:15 PM. The meeting is open to all current RCGC members.
We will discuss updates on upcoming races and social events.
Hope you can join us!
DETAILS

• DATE:  Thursday January 22, 2015
  
• TIME: 7:15 PM
  
• PLACE: The Foot Doctor, 5521 Montgomery Road, Norwood OH
• INFORMATION: Board Meeting of the Runners' Club of Greater Cincinnati. Open to all current members. We will discuss updates on upcoming races and social events.  View agenda. 

35th Annual Valentine’s 2 Mile Labor of Love Run - February 8

Join the Runners' Club this winter in one of the most unusual races you'll find in Cincinnati. Register as a couple and run in one of the specialty couple categories like Ball & Chain(a male and female runner are tethered together so they run together)or the Combine Age Groups.  If you don't have a partner, we can help find you one in the Blind Date Category.  If you don't want a partner, you can always run as a Single.
The race is put on by the Runners' Club of Greater Cincinnati and proceeds go to support running in the Greater Cincinnati area and the NKU Cross Country and Track team.
RACE DETAILS

• DATE: Sunday, February 8, 2015 - Open to All.
  
• TIME: 12 Noon.
  
• PLACE: Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY.
  
• PRE-REGISTRATION: ends Monday, February 2, 2015.
  
• PACKET PICK-UP: The Running Spot, Newport, Saturday, February 7, 2015 1 - 3 PM or at NKU day of race beginning at 10:30 AM.
  
• DIRECTIONS: 471 ends at 27, go straight through light. Turn right at next light (NKU). Take first left, then first right. Parking available in the garage.
  
• COURSE: 2 mile course beginning at Albright Health Center.
  
• OTHER: Get the flier, register online, or view the race information page.

2014 RCGC Grand Prix Update

Here is an update of the 2014 RCGC Grand Prix through the Egg Nog Jog.   The goal of the Grand Prix is to include and recognize members that do many of the races that the club puts on or supports. So far, about 80 club members have participated in at least one Grand Prix Race.
 Official scores are tallied for all the races.  Official scoring is based on your best 7 races which include your best B race , your best C Race  plus 5 other races.  If you did the Seven Hills Run on December 7, let us know at cincinnatirunning@gmail.com( Please provide proof like a photo of your race number or even better you in the photo with the race number at the run). Note you have one week to provide notice before I make all the results final. If you need to check or view what races that you ran, you can view the raw data for all the races that you did.
Current Standings